By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women's tennis team set their sights on doing something no other team has been able to do early in the 2018 season—beat Bethel.
 
And the Cardinals almost pulled it off.
 
Almost.
 
Saint Mary's took three of the six singles matches, but could not dig out of a 3-0 hole after doubles play, becoming the Royals' third straight victim with a 6-3 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference setback Saturday afternoon at the Winona Tennis Center.
 
"I thought we played well," said Saint Mary's coach Jeff Halberg. "Bethel is a team that will be in the (MIAC) playoffs at seasons end—and we plan to be there with them.
 
"We still have some things to work on, but our overall performance was very good."
 
Bethel opened with 8-4, and 8-5 wins in doubles play, before the Cardinals got things rolling. Laura Sonday (West St. Paul, Minn.), Julia Boeve (St. James, Minn.), and Sheyenne Bauer (Cannon Falls, Minn.) collected singles wins­—including a 7-6, 1-6, 10-8 victory by Bauer at No. 6.
 
The Royals, however, sealed the win with straight-sets victories at No. 2, No3, and No. 5.
 
The Cardinals (0-2 MIAC, 2-4 overall) return to conference play next weekend, hosting Macalester in a noon matchup on Saturday, before entertaining Gustavus at 11 a.m. the following morning. Both matches will be held at the Winona Tennis Center.